Skip to main content

Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp Collected Records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: SCPC-CDG-B-Great Britain-Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp

Abstract

Includes short histories from 1981 of women's peace protests in Great Britain; poetry, letters; press releases; information about nuclear free zones in Britain; announcements of protest actions; newsletters from USA; articles published; postcard photo; news clippings high school students' note cards; video documentary.

Dates

  • Majority of material found within 1981-1991

Language of Material

Materials are in English.

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research without restrictions.

Biographical / Historical

On the 5th of September 1981, the Welsh group "Women for Life on Earth" arrived on Greenham Common, Berkshire, England. They marched from Cardiff with the intention of challenging, by debate, the decision to site 96 Cruise nuclear missiles there. On arrival they delivered a letter to the Base Commander which among other things stated "We fear for the future of all our children and for the future of the living world which is the basis of all life". When their request for a debate was ignored they set up a Peace Camp just outside the fence surrounding RAF Greenham Common Airbase. They took the authorities by surprise and set the tone for a most audacious and lengthy protest that lasted 19 years. Within six months the camp became known as the Women's Peace Camp and gained recognition both nationally and internationally by drawing attention to the base with well-publicized imaginative gatherings. This unique initiative threw a spotlight on "Cruise" making it a national and international political issue throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. (From the website http://www.greenhamwpc.org.uk/).

Extent

0.42 Linear Feet (5 linear inches.)

Separated Materials

Two pieces of fencing from Greenham have been added to the Memorabilia collection, under Acc. 90A-72.

General Note

The Swarthmore College Peace Collection is not the official repository for the records of the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp.

Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2023: Memorabilia note was added to the finding aid by Laura Melbourne in 2023.

Find It at the Library

Most of the materials in this catalog are not digitized and can only be accessed in person. Please see our website for more information about visiting or requesting reproductions from Swarthmore College Peace Collection Library

Contact:
500 College Avenue
Swarthmore 19081-1399 USA US
610-328-8557
610-328-8544 (Fax)